29 October 2010

On October 23rd, Trinidad & Tobago may have seen what has been described as "the largest—and perhaps the first—GLBT protest" in the Caribbean nation's history. More than 35 students and youth activists dressed in t-shirts that read "The homosexual agenda" attended and protested a seminar sponsored by Trinidad's Hospital Christian Fellowship that featured Bakersfield, California-based "ex-gay" Pastor Phillip Lee. Local evangelicals "have declared war on same sex attractions" and invited Lee to T&T to share his ex-gay message.

Brendon J. OBrien of CAISO (Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation) was one of the organizers and discussed the event on Channel 1's One on One. "It was supposed to be a seminar on ow to change same sex attraction. But it was attended by many young people who were anxious for a different message to come out, one of love and inclusion."

O'Brien says T&T's youth do not need to hear Lee's "discredited" message. "These messages are stigmatizing and alienating young people ... not just in the United States but worldwide. ... And the message is also contributing to the number of suicides among LGBT young people. We don't need that in Trinidad & Tobago."

Trini-based blogger Globewriter: "After [the protest] the group went to a local mall for dinner still wearing their t-shirts. In many other parts of the world this would be no big deal but here it was a pretty radical act."

Bravo to Brendon O'Brien and his fellow youth activists. It's fantastic they are were able to protest. Obviously they do not want to witness a repeat of the extreme damage caused by American ex-gays and evangelical activists in Uganda.

BTW. "Crix" is a popular and delicious local biscuit made in T & T. Watch the interview—you may need to increase the volume—WHEN YOU JUMP ...

04 September 2010

On ["Go Hard'] Nicki Minaj waxes Eminem-like on a more Elton John-like subject: "And I only stop for pedestrians, or real real bad lesbians." It's lines like these that have made her hip-hop's gayest MC -- a Jay-Z for the drag queens, as it were. "I see videos on YouTube where they impersonate me, and they do an amazing freaking job of dressing up as me," she says. In past interviews she's mentioned her own bi-curious leanings and has predicted hip-hop will one day embrace its first openly gay artist. But as far as being a gay-positive presence in hip-hop, Minaj insists, "I didn't set out to do that. I just like to put a spotlight on the people who support me, and it just so happens, you know, that the gay community has supported me -- more than I ever could have imagined."

Being an acting student at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (the "Fame school") really opened her mind. "I saw gay kids, I saw white kids, I saw grunge and pink hair and piercings," she recalls. "I think because of that, I didn't put limits on myself or what I was going to put in my raps. I really just wanted to be diverse."

In the May 2010 Details, Nicki Minaj
was asked if she thought hip-hop was becoming more gay friendly. The response: "I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine
an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having
no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."

In related news: The Trinidad-born rapper is featured on Kanye West's just-released track "Monster" with Jay-z and Rick Ross—who famously said that he was "willing to record with an openly gay artist such as 50 Cent." Minaj gets rave reviews from the "kids.' "Minaj slays!" says WhatsTheT. Listen to the track HERE.